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Sports

El Fahli late double sends Berkane to TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final

By : cd on 16 May 2022, 11:21     |     Source: CAF

Youssef El Fahli scored a late double to send RS Berkane to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after a 4-1 win over TP Mazembe on the night in Morocco on Sunday.

Berkane, champions of the 2019-20 season, progressed on a 4-2 aggregate score, to set up a date against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in the final which has been confirmed for Uyo, Nigeria.

Mazembe had to finish the game with 10 men after Tandi Mwape was sent off for a second yellow card in the 65th minute.

The home side made use of the numerical advantage, scoring the second goal in the 79th minute before hitting the winning double in the last five minutes of the game.

Berkane trailed by a solitary goal from the first leg played in Lubumbashi last weekend and needed a massive performance at home to ensure they progressed to their third final.

They had a strong start to the match and got into the lead after nine minutes courtesy of a Bakr El Helali goal. The forward struck a brilliant shot on the volley from the edge of the box after a cross from the left was deflected to his path.

However, Mazembe struck an immediate response through Philippe Kinzumbi. The 23-year old forward stole the ball off Berkane defender Issoufou Dayo who had taken a heavy touch and stormed into the box before rifling an unstoppable left footer.

The goal balanced the tie with Mazembe now playing with more confidence especially as they led 2-1 on aggregate.

In the second half, the home side came back with more vigour as they sought to swing the tie back in their favour. They were handed a huge numerical advantage after 65 minutes when Zambian Mwape was sent off for a second yellow card for dissent.

With one man more, they pushed Mazembe into their own half and they were rewarded with the second goal in the 79th minute when skipper Najji Larbi bounced in a header unmarked from an Omar Namsaoui freekick.

Berkane now needed just one goal to win the tie and they got it in the 86th minute when El Fahli scored from the penalty spot. The referee reviewed a foul inside the box on the VAR pitch side monitor to award the spot kick.

El Fahli then sealed the victory in stoppage time off a counter with a simple tap in after substitute Charki El Bahri won the ball on the right and slashed in an inviting cross past the keeper.